- Aug 3, 2011
- 12
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I am retired military having moved from the city to Dutch-Country, Pennsylvania. My wife and I started out with five leg-horn hens but lost two (one to a broken leg and the other was eaten by a fox). We used to let them free range until the fox incident. This was all last year. Our initial intent was to simply have egg-producing hens (not for meat). We now have seven more hens (Silkies and Columbian Rocks). We thought when we got them that they were all hens but have since found out two of the silkies and one of the Rocks are not female. I am told that a 'flock' of chickens can have only one Rooster.
We currently have the chickens housed in an old shed and I have since cut a square opening in the shed and attached a small run to enable them to get some fresh air. I am currently trying to decide whether to build them a bigger, better, more efficient A-Frame home on wheels or to purchase one. But we have another dliemma.
Since we will now have a rooster (after we sell the other two), we have decided or are pondering, the possibility of producing baby chicks and possibly using some of the offspring as meat in the future. I'm just not sure the best way to have certain hens incubate the fertilzed eggs while other hens eggs will be utilized for our consumption. I want to build a housing unit to accomodate this but unfortunately I'm far from a capable carpenter so will most likely go the purchase route. Should I get two since one will be producing fertile eggs while the other will not?
We currently have the chickens housed in an old shed and I have since cut a square opening in the shed and attached a small run to enable them to get some fresh air. I am currently trying to decide whether to build them a bigger, better, more efficient A-Frame home on wheels or to purchase one. But we have another dliemma.
Since we will now have a rooster (after we sell the other two), we have decided or are pondering, the possibility of producing baby chicks and possibly using some of the offspring as meat in the future. I'm just not sure the best way to have certain hens incubate the fertilzed eggs while other hens eggs will be utilized for our consumption. I want to build a housing unit to accomodate this but unfortunately I'm far from a capable carpenter so will most likely go the purchase route. Should I get two since one will be producing fertile eggs while the other will not?
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